The Last Voyage
vf 15he
Donna Isabel
By Randall Parrish
Author bf Bob Hampton ot Placer.
Illustrations by Deaborn Melvill
r should greatly" have preferred
Lady Darlington to remain below dur
ing the ceremonies. There U much de
pression about such burial scenes at
sea, especially so In our circumstances
and surroundings. Dut she Insisted
upon being present, and so at the last
moment I returned to the cabin and
escorted both her and Celeste to the
deck. It was a dismal, melancholy
scene, and I did not wonder at the
slight shiver with which her ladyship
glanced about. The swiftly descending
snow, the whitened decks, trampled
beneath tha feet of the men, the bare
Bpars overhead; the low-flying, dun
colored clouds; the gray, tumbling
waters; the low growl of the Ice as
the waves battered Its front; the si
lent semicircle of men "standing mo
tionless except for their shuffling feet;
and those two white-draped figures ly
ing extended across the rail all com
bined to form a grim sea-picture the
memory of which can never dissolve.
Protected somewhat from the sharp
wind by the cabin the men had flung
aside their mufflers, so that their
weather-beaten faces, most of them
heavily bearded, were plainly revealed.
I could not but be Impressed with the
motley crowd, as the lineaments of
negro, Kanaka, and every variety of
white degenerate were thus exposed.
Their uneasy, shuffling feet, and the
impatience depicted on their faces,
aroused me to the requirements of the
moment. I advanced to the rail, stand
ing beside the corpse of the mate.
"Lads," I said, soberly, "when we
hury shipmates at sea there Is a
solemnity about the simple ceremony
unknown to the land. Far away from
friends and home we give the body up
to the great ocean to keep for eterni
ty. Yet we are sailors, long accus
tomed to the vicissitudes and perils of
the deep; we have parted with ship
mates before in many seas, and not a
few among you look forward to the
time when comrades will be called
upon to perform a similar service of
respect over 'j our bodies. Even now
we sail forward into great danger,
and none among us can prophesy what
the morrow may bring of either life
or death. Yet the sea Is the sailor's
srpulcher, the roar of the great waves
his requiem. I am no sea preacher,
able to address you upon the here
after, or fitted to eulogize the spirits
of those whose bodies we are about to
bury. You desire nothing of the kind.
Neither can I read over these forms
the usual burial service, for I can find
no book containing it on board. Is
Her Voice Arose, Low Yet Distinct,
Trembling to the Accent of Rev
erent Prayer.
there any one among you, mates, who
will voice a prayer before we drop
these bodies overboard?"
I looked along the semi-circle of
faces, expecting nothing from the
members of the crew? yet faintly hope
ful that some one or two might be led
to respond. No one stirred, however,
the only sound on board tho wind
whistling through the rigging and the
heavy breathing of the men.
"Well, then," I added, regretfully,
"nothing remains but to commit their
bodies to the deep, and may God have
mercy on their gouls!"
I lifted my hand In signal, but even
as I did so Lady Darlington spoke, the
men who were about to tilt the planks
pausing In wonderment.
"Walt, Mr. Stephens; not without
one word of prayer. Let me speak It, If
110 one elso will."
She came forward, throwing back
her veil, and grasping my sleeve to
retain steady footing on the heaving
deck. For an instant there was an
Impressive silence; then her voice
arose, low, yet distinct, trembling to
the .accent of reycront prsyer, I know
not wnai inn Rffrt? the simple
breathing upward of a petition to the,
Almighty Father for pardon and guid
ance; yet never before did faith lay
such mighty hold upon me. It waa
short, only a few faltering sentences,
but the honesty of It, the faith so
'rlv vldenced Id both words al
Wee. impressed the roughest there.
She paused, her head still lowered; I
heard some one say "Amen" solemnly,
and raised my hand In signal. Noise
lessly the ends of the planks were up
tilted, and the two sneeted figures slid
downward Into the gray water. In
stantly they disappeared beneath the
unfathomable depths. So silently and
expeditiously was this accomplished
that she even failed to note the action,
lifting her eyes wonderllngly to the
bare planks, and with a choking sob
burying her face In her hands. With
out venturing a word I led her gently
to the companion. Five minutes later
I stood again upon the bridge, the
deck beneath throbbing to the pulse
of the released engine, as the Sea
Queen raced recklessly forward
through the Ice-girded waters In des
perate effort to attain her goal.
It was not a dark night, for tho stars
were out such cold, dead stars thej
seemed and a little later I knew the
moon would come stealing up above
the waste ot waters, yet there was a
haze hovering all about us, as though
the entire surrounding atmosphere was
thick with frost. I crouched down
behind the slight protection of the
tarpaulins, sweeping the horizon with
my glasses, but discovering nothing
to awaken alarm. I saw nothing of
the watch, except as I called for them.
Then they came, clawing their way
out of the snug holes where they hid
from wind and water. However, there
was little enough for any of us to do;
we could simply hold on, trusting in
the strength of the keel under us, and
sheering to eastward of the ice-pack.
It was a wild, mad night, the wind
freezing to tho marrow, and every
wave dashing Its Icy spray hurtling
against the front of the wheelhouse.
At eight bells I went below again,
every muscle, of my body aching, and
my face tingling as though pierced by
a thousand needles. I sat down before
the red-hot stove in the cabin, think
ing I should never get tie cold thawed
out of me. Yet Inside of ten minutes,
with head resting on tho chair-back,
and legs extended to keep my balance,
I was sound asleep.
Whether a sudden leap of the ves
sel or some unusual noise aroused me
I cannot say. Dazed, confused, I sat
upright, staring about me, for the mo
ment scarcely realizing where I was.
I could hoar the fierce pounding of the
sea without, tho shrieking of wind
through the cordage, and the rattle
and groaning of the woodwork as the
struggling vessel dived into the hol
lows and fought her way back to the
crests. A shower of hall lashed the
windows, rattling like shot against the
shutters. As I glanced backward
across my shoulder, I heard, above
all that hellish uproar, a hollow,
unearthly groan. I was upon my feet
in an Instant, grasping at the edge ot
the .table, striving .vainly to place the
sound. For some cause I could not
keep my eyes off Tuttlo's door, every
nerve pulsing with agony. Was It
Imagination, Illusion? By all the gods,
I beheld a white visionary form glide
noiselessly forth and disappear as
though dissolved In mist. It was cer
tainly there, yet, In another Instant,
had vanished, I knew not how. I
stared about Into the dim corners, then
leaped toward the door, seeking to
open it. It was locked; of course it
was, for the key was In my own
pocket.
Many tlmos I have known fear, but
not such fear as this which now smote
me. Hero waa something Intangible,
something I could not reach and throt
tle, a dim, frightful shade, coming
from God alone knew whence. I
pressed my hands to my head, and en
deavored to laugh, to woo back my
courage. Great heavens, was I also
losing my mine'? Was I to be haunted
and pursued by evil fancies? Had the
curse of this ship now descended upon
me? I staggered to my feet, holding
on desperately to the table, seized the
decanter from off the swinging shell
and drank deeply. Lord, what grim
fancies a man may have when the
physical organism Is unstrung! I
glanced at my watch, discovering I
still had two hours below, and crossed
over to my stateroom, nerving myself
to play the man, jet glancing about
fearfully Into the dancing shadows. I
laughed as I closed the door, but shot
the bolt hard, and lay there for an
hour listening, every nerve atlngle,
before fatigue finally closed my eyes.
CHAPTER XVIII.
In Which We Lay the Ghost.
The coming of night found our situ
atlon less promising a thick veil of
clouds obscuring all Rleam of stars,
the wind veering more to the west
ward and growing bitterly cold. The
barometer was falling slowly, nros-
aging the approach of storm; yet
nothing openly threatened with the
exception of these thickening cloud
masses scudding up from out the
southwest, their wlldness reflected In
the dnrkenlng sea, and the continuous
thunder of wave along the Ice-front
blocking our passage. I visited the
epftin s.zA bailor riisj:. ordered half
speed and prompt attention to signals, I
to; x one bs searching glance about
the (M-'-r.'n? horizon, and finally
thtv myself, without undroasing. oa
my bunk for a brief rest below.
As 1 lay there, thinking of that wild
scene without, I discovered sleep Im
possible. Was I doing right ihus to
hold on for further southing? My
conscience was not altogether clear,
for I realized that It would be luck
rather than seamanship that would
take us through and bring us safely
out a;ala. Qjnly. some mysterj ot
-c had thus far given us
passage, had held the wind to anoth
er point ot the compass, beating back
the invading floes and yielding to us
an open sea. But would such fortune
last a day, two days, more? We
could race northward with the Ice, but
what about that vast field stretching
to the northwest? It by some shift ol
wind it were to elose In, the helpless
Sea Queen would be crushed like an
eggshell. And Lady Darlington had
said she trusted me implicitly. Was I
showing myself worthy by thus push
ing the yacht deeper into danger?
By heaven, for her sake, if for no
other reason, I would play the man!
Ay, and I comprehended exactly what
such resolvo would cost realized ful
ly what that mongrel crew would say
and do the moment their ghostly ter
rors fled, and they knew I had given
up search for the treasure. I should
have to command by brute force, by
threat and blow. There would be
mutiny aboard for every league until
we made port. I knew the nature of
that sea-scum forward how they
would whine and curse, how they
would hate me for tailing to hold
them to their course in face of death!
Well, let them hate; my love was
worth by far the more, and tho life
and honor of Lady Darlington out
weighed all else on board ay, and the
treasure of the Donna Isabel! "Im
plicitly" I saw her eyes again as she
said It, and sprang to the deck, fum
bling In the darkness for the latch ot
my door.
The main cabin was dimly lighted
and chill, the fire In the stove low. I
paused to rattle It, and add a few
lumps of coal from the scuttle stand
ing near by. In spite of surrounding
comforts what a grim, inhospitable
place this was for any woman like
her! The very snugness of tho cabin
served only to emphasize the gloom
and peril without, the frightful polar
mystery which surrounded us, whfch
drives men mad amid its awful dis
tances, its shrouded silence.
Suddenly, directly opposite where I
stood, I saw it again that same
Bhapeless, white, gliding figure. An
Instant only I stood rooted to the spot,
my blood like Ice, my eyes full of hor
ror. Then the swift reaction came,
the reserve courage of a man ashamed
of such weakness, and I leaped
straight toward the misty object, grap
pling at it with my hand3. I touched
nothing but air, falling headlong with
a violence jarring the entire cabin,
and overthrowing a chair crashing to
the deck. Dazed, confused, I stag
gered to my knees, staring about Into
th6 dim shadows. A white-draped
figure was at my very elbow, and I
sprang to my feet, only to take a
quick step backward, grasping at tho
table, as I recognized Lady Darling
ton. "Good God! was that you?" I gasped,
the horror still possessing me.
"This certainly Is," she answered,
swiftly. "But what do you mean?
What has occurred?"
"I hardly know," and I looked about
me, and then Into her face, breathing
heavily. "I seem unable to separate
the real from the unreal. I am half
afraid I am losing my mind. Lady
Darlington, it Is not only the crew for
ward who are, seeing ghosts on hoard.
I laughed at my experience before, be
lieving It a mere' Illusion that could
never occur again. In that spirit I
told you about seeing a white, misty
figure In this cabin tho night after
Tuttle died. It vanished like a wreath
of smoke, and daylight made me be
lieve the vision was born of a tired
brain. But I have seen It again now
yonder, as plainly as I can see you.
It was no dream, no Imagination; yet
when I sought to grasp the thing, my
fingers encountered nothing but air."
I saw her hands tremble, her white
face turned whither I pointed; but she
had not beheld what I had, and her
mind remained clear.
"What was It you saw?"
"A shapeless white figure, misty,
vanishing like a bubble."
"Yonder, you say? Just where you
saw It before?"
I had not thought of that, yet It was
true there, beside Tuttle'g door. An
Instant she stood motionless, her eyes
searching the dim corners of the cab
in, as though tracing some suspicion
awakened within her mind. Suddenly
she clasped my arm.
"We do not believe In ghosts, Mr.
Stephens, you and I," her voice grow
ing firmer with conviction. "Our edu
cation and training make such a con
ception impossible. There is a natural
cbuso for this, a reason, an actual
presence back of the shadow. There
must be, and we roust find It. Where
did you stand when you saw this ap
parition?" I stepped back to the spot beside
the stove, realizing that sho still clung
tightly to me.
"Here, and I lifted my eyes like
this."
She leaned eagerly forward, her
breath on my cheek, her fingers clutch
ing my arm.
"Why why that Is a mirror you are
looking into! 8oe! What Is It re
flected there? Turn up the light until
I locate the spot. Oh, I see now the
npen pantry door. Mr.' Stephens, there
Is where your ghost stood It was the
shadow of a man reflected In that
mirror."
Our eyes met, all my former terror
Bed. shame and anger dominating me.
Tn h Continued)
LE3JE
Where They Spend tho Day.
Charles Auk at Lake Manawa.
Miss Etta Hyde in Glenwood.
Miss Agnes Foster at Glenwood.
Mrs. Peter Evers at Clenwood.
Miss Mary Kraeger In Omaha.
Miss Ella Anderson In Glenwood.
Tom Mack In the city of Murray.
Will Sitzman and family at Oma
ha.
Aug. Hofman and wife In Oma
ha. Dave. Anilck doing some tall fish
ing. John Lindeniau in Glenwood and
Tabor.
Will Simons and wire nt Council
Bluffs.
G. W. Glenn and family nt Glen
wood. L. E.- Engle and family nt Glen
wood. Cliff Brlgga in the city of Glen
wood. I. H. Sitzman with the people of
Murray.
Miss Helen Egenbcrger at Red
Rock, la.
Mrs. Lettle Bird nnd children at
Glenwood.
C. A. Dare In the thriving city of
Glenwood.
Riley Jones with old friends In
Glenwood.
Earl Travis In his Incubator at the
court house.
Eddie Todd nnd wife with tho
Loulsvllleltes.
Mrs. M. E. Buttery and son In
Council Bluffs.
John Richardson and son Floyd at
Lake Manawa.
Wade W. Windham with tho peo
ple of Louisville.
Martin L. Frlodrlch nnd daughter
with Murrayltes.
Col. M. A. Bates among tho good
people of Murray.
Mrs. Charles Harvey and non
Oliver at Omaha.
Harry Smith, wife and two daugh
ters at Glenwood.
George Schoerman with the good
people of Louisville.
Gus Olson taking pictures of the
crowd at Glenwood.
Mrs. Wm. Howland and baby In
tho city of Lincoln.
Mrs. N. II. Isbell and son John
In the town of Omaha.
Councilman Mendenhall with the
Inhabitants of Glenwood.
Lee Cotner and family and Miss
Laura Tower at Glenwood.
elson Jones, wife and daughters
spent the day In Glenwood.
Mrs. George Sayles and children
In Cedar Creek with relatives.
Misses Ethel and Pearl Hayne at
Pacific Junction and Lake Manawa.
Ye scribe in Plattsmouth grinding
out cold blooded facts for tho peo
ple. General Foreman Hayes of the
Burlington at tho dry town of Lin
coln.
W. C. Hamilton assisted Prof.
Schulhofs musicians to play the na
tional airs at Glenwood.
Senator Thomas and F. Clnre
Thomas in Council Bluffs stirring up
tho Jackson automobile people for
more machines.
W. A. Tulene and family, J. W.
Tulene and family and 11. C. Tulene
and family al lare visiting today in
Glenwood and duly celebrated the
day.
Roy Thompson, Clyde Adamson,
MIhs Jennie Batton and Miss Lillian
Thompson spent today with the
people of MurrBy helping to cele
brate the fourth.
Master Milton AtiNtln, one of the
brightest bo j In the town tonight
In " China Doll" at the Parmele.
Children frs. Parent ft nnd 10
ccnU. '
Buy Cool Pair of
Trousers for the 4th
Your choice of a large assortment of grays, tans
and greens, Dutchess make, guar- Ef
anteed, at HfDJ
Your choice of a handsome range of patterns in
flannels and homespuns, peg-top (X CA
and belt loops, at HJ DU
C. E. Wescotfs Sons
"Where Quality Counts."
We ARE AGENTS FOR THE NANCY HANKS
Mrs. Pickett laitertalns.
Mrs. W. L. Pickett entertained a
few lady friends at her home last
evening. The evening was devoted
to the always Interesting gamo of
bridge, the company filling two ta
bles. During the evening a delicious
luncheon was served by tho hostess,
which was thoroughly enjoyed by
the guests.
Those who comprised this party
were Misses Mia and Barbara Gerlng
and their guest, Miss Woodruff, Vera
Leonard, Mesdames T. P.- Livingston,
W. ,T. Strelght and A. E. Gass.
Mrs. Pickett was also hostess at
a kenslngton on an afternoon of this
week. On this occasion tho ladles
had come prepared to ply the busy
needle and (sew) they did while so
ciability reigned supreme. An appe
tizing luncheon whs served which fur
ther augmented the pleasures of the
afternoon.
The ladles present were Mesdames
F. O. Frlcke, C. G. Frlcke, W. A. Wil
son of Detroit, Mich., II. N. Dovey,
W. K. Fox, W. S. Wendell, A. E.
Gass, Misses Lena Frlcke, Frances
and May McKlnley.
Is Shipping Mmiy t'licriicH.
J. C. Petersen, tho well known
fruit raiser near the city, Is creating
a big market for his cherrleH.
Hardly a train goes out of tho city
that does not enrry some baskets of
his products. Mr. Petersen Is one
of the kind of men who sees that
what he ships out is high class fruit
and In this manner he la rapidly
making a market for fruits. He ship
ped twenty-nine baskets in one ship
ment the other day each bringing
him about ono dollar which Is not
a bad day's work In Itself. Mention
was made sometime ago of the straw
berries which Mr. Petersen raises
and his cherries aro at least
equal In value and worth to the ber
ries. If the other fruit growers of
this section wont after business as
Mr. Petersen does there would bo
no trouble in making ths city a big
market.
Judge TravU Holds Court.
Judge Travis came up from Ne
braska City last night and today
to hold a brief session of court' at
which he transacted the following
business.
First National Bank of Platts
mouth vs. Ilatt & Son et al. Objec
tions to Jurisdiction overruled.
City of Plattsmouth vs. Wescott et
al. Defendants have leave to with
draw demurrer and answer within
thirty days.
White vs. Sturm, Demurrer over
ruled. Plaintiff excepts.
Javorske vb. Javorsko. Restrain
ing order granted plaintiff.
State vs. Clarence. On application
of the county attorney the hearing
on tho motion for a new trial Is post
poned to July 17, 9 a. m.
Pasture to Rent.
The undersigned has about 40
acres of good grass to rent for pas
turing horses only. Good running
water and plenty of shado. One
dollar per month per head.
C. Ilengen, '
7V4 miles south of Plattsmouth.
Don't Forget TliK
Saturduy evening, July 10th Philip
I Hid will give a bnrn dance at his
tome six miles west of Myard.
Everyone Is Invited and a good time
assured to all who attend.
Short horn for Kile
Three good registered Shorthorn
yearling bulls for snlo. Also good
fresh milk cows. Mark White
SUSPENDERS, 50 and 75c
Pleasant Ulrth.by Surprise.
Miss Lillian Thompson, Saturday
afternoon, was made the recipient of
a more than pleasant surprise party,
which had been secertly planned by
Mrs. J. L. Thompson, the occasion
belngMIss Lillian's nineteenth birth
daj'. Tho company consisted of the
members of the Euterpean Glee Club.
thoJr leader, Mrs. E. H. Wescott
and a few friends of the young lady.
Sho .vas very mich surprised when
lV i.uests came In on her r,ut soon
recovered and gave them a very
plc.isunt afternoon.
Tic; time was lA.-ted with u:.c!c.
'.:h vocal and inmumontal, and
? clal conversiitl n. until vho early
tv-ning when a dJifclitful liiithday
luncheon was served.
As a memento of tho auspicious ac-
T.slon, thero were many handsome
gifts left with Miss Lillian, who could
not but feel other than highly pleas
e'. a' the kind remembrances of her
fl'lofldd.
Tliire who part cbai-d l:i this
i:.-st Iinppy event were MUkpj J'tha
. 'al lll. Carrie V:.hc. UHiV-r! L ook.
Lucilo Randall, Mur Barthold, Alice
Tuey, Helen Spies, Garnet Cory.
VIrglo MrDanlel, Nora Batten. Jen
nie Bntten, Ferris York, Alleen Ren
nJe, Elizabeth Kerr, Myrtle Hall.
Mario nnd Opal Fitzgerald, Hermle
Spies, Mary Sharp, Delia Moore,
Florence Cory, Mabel Leesley, Dora
KefTenberger, Varna Ilatt, Minnie
Holnrlck; Mrs. E. II. Wescott.
Oc for tho North.
Rev. J. II. SalHbury departed this
morning for Omaha where he will
meet the incoming members of the
Society of Christian Endeavor of this
state and organize the Endeavors
special train for St. Faul, Minn. Rev.
Salsbury is president of the Society
and as such he will have charge of
tho train which promises to be the
largest ever sent out by the Endeav
orers. One feature of the train will
be a marriage, the ceremony to be
performed by Rev. Salsbury free of
charge. It Is also expected and
hoped that Hon. William Jennings
Bryan will bo a guest of honor on
the train and deliver a short address.
Those who will attend from this
city Include Mrs. J. H. Salsbury
and son Russell, Mrs. Charles C.
Parmele and daughter Hallle, Miss
A!nm Larson.Mlss Alice Kerr, Misses
Estclla and Carrie Balrd, Miss Pearl
Staats, Miss Ruth Johnson and Miss
Frances Weldman, all of whom de
parted for Omaha this Bfternoon.
. yuj
Entertain M. 10. Ladle Aid.
The Ladles Aid Saclo'y of tho M.
E. Church were nun delightfully
entertained at the homo of Judae
Allen J. Beoson Wednesday after
noon, with Mesdames Ed. Brant it
nnd .'Jecson as hostesse.
In deference to the season, th.
d'-coratlons consisted lnrgcy of tlngi
snd flowers, carry'n,: out the colli
Ftiiemo of red, white and blut.
A musical program wnq rendered
during the iifwrnoon all of which
vim most thoroughly enjoyed by
Hope fortunate rnonri". to In pivs
eit. Tl.o n'rihhment diversions In the
term of ice cream and oiko materially
Y.UC. In the social go id time.
Trnch pleasure wti expressed by
it- ladles, as they too1! tlidr de
parture, at the cordtxl hospitality
y Mesdames Brantnur nnd Heeson.
special services at the Christian
church In Murray Sunday night,
July 11. A lecture sermon. Suh
Jeet, "Fools." Everyone come.